SANTA MONICA, Calif.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–The City of Santa Monica’s Big Blue Bus (BBB) announced today that it has become one of the country’s first municipal transit authorities to convert its fleet to renewable natural gas (RNG), rated 90% cleaner than diesel and considered the cleanest transportation fuel available. Earlier this year, BBB modified its original agreement with Clean Energy Fuels Corp. (Nasdaq: CLNE) to transition the supply of Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) for its fleet to Clean Energy’s Redeem™ renewable LNG (Redeem™), which is non-fracked methane harvested from organic waste in landfills.
With the announcement, BBB unveiled a new Bus ad campaign called “Bigger, Bluer, Skies” to emphasize the lower emissions and sustainability of this type of fuel.
Big Blue Bus has been fueling its LNG and Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) fleet of motor coaches with fuel supplied by Clean Energy since 2012. The process of harvesting and processing Redeem™ provides a product that has fewer impurities than conventional natural gas and is a cleaner burning fuel source.
“City Council has voiced its support for non-fracked, sustainable sources of fuel, and Redeem™ delivers a fuel made entirely of waste; a more sustainable product at an equal cost. This makes BBB’s partnership with Clean Energy to use the Redeem™ fuel a win-win solution,” said BBB’s Transit Director, Ed King.
The City of Santa Monica is a nationally recognized leader for its sustainability policies and actions. BBB has progressively contributed to the City’s sustainability narrative through its use of alternative fuel and ultimate phasing out of diesel-fueled motor coaches. Through this commitment, clean burning and Renewable Natural Gas now power BBB’s entire fleet. The modification to the original agreement with Clean Energy to furnish and deliver Renewable Methane Gas, as a replacement for traditional Liquid Natural Gas, is cost neutral to the City. The addition of Redeem™ is a next step in BBB’s and the City’s sustainability portfolio.
“Big Blue Bus is a leader in sustainability and our ability to partner with it and provide a completely recyclable natural gas fueling option helps reduce emissions locally and shows other cities the power in using Redeem™ renewable fuel,” said Peter Grace, Clean Energy’s senior vice president for sales and finance.
About Redeem™:
Renewable Liquefied Natural Gas, Redeem™, is non-fracked methane, harvested from landfills. This gas has historically been burned off into the atmosphere. However, with advances in renewable technology, the gas is now harvested through a series of membranes implanted in the ground of landfills. Renewable Methane Gas is processed through a filtration and refining process and transported via pipeline to end users. As a result of the harvesting and filtration process, it is found that Renewable Methane Gas has fewer impurities than conventional Natural Gas and thus is a cleaner burning fuel source. Operating City transit buses through this waste-to-energy fuel source, Big Blue Bus contributes to fulfilling the City’s commitment to protecting the Environment by utilizing the cleanest transportation fuel source available.
To watch a short video about how Redeem™ is made, see https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3VapWtJGVEw.
About the Big Blue Bus
Big Blue Bus operates a fleet of 200 vehicles transporting more than 61,000 passengers daily across a 51-square mile service area. Nationally recognized for its long-standing commitment to a cleaner environment, the entire fleet operates on alternative fuels, including liquefied and compressed natural gas (LNG/CNG), which helps to cut emissions by over 80 percent. Serving Santa Monica and the Los Angeles area since 1928, Big Blue Bus has won numerous awards for its customer service, safety and efficiency.